Yeah 2 generations back is a good general rule of thumb with consoles. Obviously current gen isn't retro, and the generation just gone probably isn't either. Two generations back gets to the PS2/GC/xbox, which seems reasonable.

I sometimes think of pre-3D era as being retro though, so the SNES generation backwards. 8 bit and 16 bit pixelart definitely seems more stereotypically retro than say MGS3 or Wind Waker.

Its kind of weird with the Wii and PS3 and Xbox 360 because console length wise they had almost like a double cycle... I mention games I have brought for them with the intention of them going in the collection in my retro purchases stuff because well its why I got them.... I think its kind of the best ones to buy really, old old stuff goes for a premium, new stuff is expensive but the generation just lost nobody wants and you can gobble everything up cheap and just hold on to it till it really is retro.

I think theres also a how easy is it just to wwalk in a shop and get gmes for it factor too... Wii is last generation and its still everywere but a lot of places simply dont have PSP stuff or a PSP section now for example yet there both one back from current.

PSP definitely feels more retro. It's interesting because while PSP was before Vita, when it started out it was alongside the PS2 not the PS3 as Sony's home console - I think that's what makes it feel older. I still have good memories of connecting my PSP to my PS2 via USB so I could unlock content in Jak X/Daxter.

tbh if it's 3d it isn't retro to me. when you say retro I think of really old games such as classic platformers from the golden age of gaming.

honestly I can't see the ps1 as retro let alone the ps2. They're old yes but to me retro has to be more towards the begining, and 3d just feels too advanced to be retro.

I don't think the ps3/xbox 360/wii will ever be considered retro. I mean you look at the massive leap in technology from the mega drive to the ps1 and then from the ps1 to the ps3 and into hd with the ps3. To me it's gotta feel ancient, and I don't see the ps3 as ever being fully ancient.

You have to remember though that for those of us who grew up with 16k spectrums and atari 2600 the leap to a SNES was easy as big as the leap from ps1 to ps4.. pixely almost untellable messes became actual characters, we never ever thought that would happen so who knows where the hell stuff will go in the future..

I will class anything from a previous generation as retro to broaden discussions. Especially since the oldest generation I'm properly acquainted with is the N64 era. I have played a few games from prior gens but not too many.

It doesn't feel quite right though. Two generations prior though, definitely. It feels like such a different time.